John Bondfield to the Commissioners

Upon Mature deliberation and the advise of Experienc'd Officers at this Port Captain
Tucker has alter'd his resolution of laying the Ship a Ground, as there are proper
Conveniences to heave down large Ships he has brought his Ship up to the Hulks and
getting all ready to have her hove down next Week which he and the Carpenter tels
me will take eight Days. I therefore hope we shall get her out of the Carpenters hands
before the Easter Holidays.

The Captain has order'd the respective officers to make out their returns for the
Stores wanted provissions excepted that Object entirely depending on your Honors Instructions
all which will be duely Provided.2 The Schooner Ann, John Widger { 24 } from Edenton arrived at this Port the 8th Instant he left Edenton 8 March. Brings
no inteligence of any Nature had only two Letters on board and no Papers he mentions
the Arrival of several Ships from France at that Port but knows not the Names of Ships
or Masters. A small schooner left No. Carolina with him for this Place whose Captain
we hope will be more Inteligent.3

A little Jersey Privateer that has infested this Coast lately has taken two french
Vessels coming from Bilboa to this Port with Tobacco.

The Officers of the Tobacco Farm Insisted of Captain Tuckers entering and Landing
the Ships provission of that Article. I have waved Complying and the Officers have
assented to wait for Instructions from their respective Boards on this head. In like
manner permit me to request your honors Instructions for my Government in future.4

Should it be agreable that an Extra Stock of Medecines and Slops5 be shipt per the Boston as any quantity of each may be colected on Short Notice your
pleasure shall be strickly adher'd too.

The Underwriters have got the premiums up to so exorbitant a Pitch that unless Government
will grant a Convoy the Trade with the United States will entirely Cease.6 The premiums at present to America only are 50 per Cent consequently to cover the
amount of the outfit requires an equal advance for the Insurance. Freights thereby
are proportiond a vessel of two Thousand pounds Value requireing four Thousand pounds
Capital that in reality four Capitals for One or Sales @ 400 per Cent will not more
than realize the Outfit and the same with the return Cargoes, which returns are so
uncertain that none but Men of very extensive Fortunes can embark without Risque of
Failing, and the Opulent Merchants from a regular path werein their Capitals are advantageously
employ'd are not very Anxious to embark where such heavy Charges lay against them,7 with humble Submission permit me to recommend your honors perticular attention to
this object as a means to greatly encrease the adventures from France.

Captain Tucker has on board a quantity of Pig Iron if you approve a quantity say Twenty
Ancors of proper Sizes may be purchased here very reasonably and taking out as much
of the pig Iron as will nearly pay the value of the Ancors replace the object of Balast
for which the Iron was put on board with good dry { 25 } Gravel. I have mentiond it to Capt. Tucker who commends the exchange.

A french Ship from the West Indies Arriv'd last night fell in with an American Twenty
Gun Ship to the Eastward of Cape Finister bound for France which ship may be hourly
expected in some port on this Coast. I am Your honors Most Obedient & respectful Servant

1. Bondfield, unaware that Silas Deane had left or that JA had arrived in Paris, indicated in the upper left corner of the first page that the
letter was intended for “The Honble. Benj Franklin Silas Deane Arthur Lee Esqr.”

7. For a vessel and its cargo valued at £2,000 insurance at 50 percent would cost £1,000,
and the freight would cost another £1,000, making the total cost to the owners £4,000.
Thus, on a voyage to and from America, assuming that the value of the cargo and vessel
remained the same on the return voyage, the total capital expenditure would be £8,000.
A 400 percent return on the original investment of £2,000 would, therefore, no more
than pay expenses.

Docno: ADMS-06-06-02-0013

Author: Franklin, Benjamin

Author: Lee, Arthur

Recipient: Vergennes, Charles Gravier, Comte de

Date: 1778-04-10

Benjamin Franklin and Arthur Lee to Vergennes

[dateline] Passy, April 10. 1778

[salute] Sir

We1 have the Honour to acquaint your Excellency, that Mr. Adams, appointed by the Congress
to replace Mr. Deane in the Commission here, is safely arrived, and purposes to wait
upon you as soon as recovered a little from the Fatigue of his Voyage.2

The Ship in which he came is a Frigate of 30 Guns, belonging to the Congress. In her
Passage she took a large Ship from London to New York, with a Cargo valued at 70,000
£ Sterling.

The3 Congress had resolved to detain General Bourgoyne and his Army for Breach of Capitulation;
and have now in all above 10,000 Prisoners of the Enemy in their Hands.4 The Remainder of the British Troops continue closely pent up in New York and Philadelphia,
and in a suffering Condition for Provisions.

Mr. Adams brings, among others, the enclos'd Resolutions of Congress, which it may
be agreable to your Excellency to see.5 They will probably discourage the English Ministry in their { 26 } { 27 } Projects of tempting the Commissioners here, or the Congress there, to enter into
Treaties, wherein every thing was propos'd to be granted us, except Independence.
They have met with no Encouragement here, and it is from these Resolves certain they
will meet with none there, especially after the Treaties come to be known, which Mr.
Adams is confident will be ratified immediately.

We have the Honour to be, with the greatest Respect, Your Excellency's most obedient
and most humble Servants

1. In the left margin opposite this point is the notation “M. francklin annonce l'arrivee”
de M. Adams successeur de M. Deane et la prise d'un riche vaisseau anglois.”

2. JA commented at length on his first meeting with Vergennes, which took place on 11 April.
The visit was perhaps hastened when JA learned, at dinner on 10 April, that Vergennes was surprised that JA had not called on him immediately upon his arrival at Paris (Diary and Autobiography, 2:298–299; 4:47–48).

3. In the left margin opposite this point is the notation “resolution du Congrès du retenir
prisonniers le Gl. Burgoyne et son armèe.”